Too many American political analysts and reporters, often liberals, make a fundamental mistake while commenting upon our current political scene. They seem to think the party of Adolph Hitler was elected to power by a majority of Germans, somehow contriving that situation to apply to the United States now. The reality is quite different, and we would be advised to get the history straight.

In the election of July 1932, the Nazis won 37 percent of the vote in the multi-party German Reichstag, the highest point ever for the party prior to Hitler’s dictatorship. This made them the largest single party. Four months later, in the election of November 1932, the Nazis Party was weakened by winning only 33 percent of the vote.

The Socialist Party won 20 percent, the Communist Party 17 percent, and the Catholic Center Party 12 percent. The Nazis were far from a majority, but Hitler demanded to be made chancellor, head of the day-to-day German government. Many foolishly believed Hitler could be kept under control. On Jan. 30, 1933, he was appointed chancellor by President von Hindenburg. Unfortunately, the Nazi horror then was unleashed, and within 10 months the Nazi Party was declared the only legal party in Germany. They won all of the Reichstag seats in the November 1933 election.

Given a choice, the Germans never voted Hitler into office. With only one-third of the electorate, he imposed a dictatorship over Germany’s Constitution, legal system, free press, artistic expression, religious practices and civil rights. Dictatorship often comes in the dark of night, not in the full light of day, not by a majority vote. History begs us to pay attention.

Elmo Roach,

Las Cruces

Thank God for the Electoral College

Once again we are about to hear calls to abolish the Electoral College. America is a republic, not a democracy; for those who don’t know the difference, stop reading now. The Electoral College exists for three reasons: first, to protect the minority from the majority; next, to be able to call the election, which before the modern age could take months, creating anxiety and possible instability; and finally the simple fact that many people were uninformed and, therefore, ignorant of the facts to make a logical decision.

Modern communication may have sped up calling elections, but hasn’t changed the nature of the beast. Electoral College numbers are based on state population, but they are not directly proportional. Smaller states actually get more representation than they would if it was an even ratio with states having larger populations, thus helping protect the minority from the majority. That leaves us with the last and possibly most important reason: trying to protect society from itself. These people are supposedly smarter than the average citizen.

However, I’m not sure Hillary Clinton actually won the popular vote. When as many illegal votes as were undoubtedly cast in this election, who knows? Far too many people both illegal and dead are registered. Anyone can register in New Mexico, with no questions asked. Once again, America is a republic not a democracy. Thank God for the wisdom of our founding fathers and the Electoral College.